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Essential Guide to MapMyRun

That’s why MapMyRun is such an essential tool for anyone trying to live a healthier lifestyle, whether you’re a beginner eager to track how many steps you’re tackling every day or a seasoned distance runner looking to shave down your mile time or something in between. And it’s not just for running and cycling. In fact, users who log gym workouts actually worked out more — twice as much.

But as important as it is to track how far and how fast you’ve run — or how many gym workouts you’ve done — there’s so much more to MapMyRun than simple logging, run tracking and route creating. To help you get the most out of the app, we’ve put together a few tips and tricks.

6 WAYS TO SET YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS

1. ONE TAP AND YOU’RE OFF

We designed the app so you can start tracking your run with just one tap. (In fact, the biggest indicator of whether you’ll stick with it is whether you fire it up within a week of downloading it.) The launch screen has everything there: Your exercise type, a map and a huge green button to begin tracking. Tap that green button and you’re ready to go.

2. OWN EVERY MILE

Track your walks and runs by distance, pace, calorie burn, elevation and more. You can customize your dashboard and set the audio coach to update you on your split pace every mile, for example. You can also break down your performance (and progress!) with graphs and charts and compare past runs on the same route. Remember: It doesn’t get easier, but you can get faster!

3. LOG EVERY ACTIVITY (NOT JUST RUNNING)

Don’t let the name fool you — there are more than 400 activity types you can monitor in the MapMyRun app. Swimming. Power yoga. Even yard work. Whatever your routine, you can log it, track it and eventually improve. (You’ll still have to rake the lawn yourself.)

4. RUN NEW ROUTES WITH ROUTE GENIUS

Every runner knows how important it is to break up the monotony and run somewhere new. And every traveler knows how hard it is to find somewhere more exciting to run than a hotel treadmill.

The solution? Route Genius, which offers global routes. New places to run anywhere. Any time. Best of all, you can find a route that’s right for you. When you search, you’ll simply indicate a few preferences (avoid highways, desired distance), and get one that’s just your speed. When you find routes you love, you can save them as favorites.

5. SOCIALIZE WITH FRIENDS

The Friends feed can be set to notify you when a friend on your list posted a run or workout. You can cheer them on and comment on their workouts — and they can do the same for you.

6. BUILD YOUR COMMUNITY

Within the app, you can see the routes people are running in your neighborhood via the Community Feed. This is a great way to make friends and to be inspired by the global community of runners. (You can see routes in, say, Ireland. Or Peru. But more on that in a minute.)

Plus, there’s literally a whole world of active app users who connect on Facebook to meet up IRL, create challenges and more. These include the You vs The Year challenge (where you set an annual goal of, say, running 600 miles over a calendar year) and the You vs You challenge (where you attempt to better your past performance alongside others who are doing the same).

Inside the app, you can measure some of those challenges, too. Invite 10–20 friends, and you can help keep tabs on each other. Call it motivation or call it positive peer pressure: Either way, it works.

3 FEATURES THAT MAKE TRACKING A BREEZE

1. CUSTOMIZE YOUR DASHBOARD

Feel like something’s missing or like you’re getting too much info? Swipe up, and you can customize what data shows up on your home screen.

2. CONNECT YOUR GEAR

MapMyRun connects with more gear and with more apps than virtually any other fitness tracker.

Here’s just a few examples, all via Bluetooth:

Heart monitors (including Polar and a special set of headphones from JBL and UnderArmour).

Smart headphones. (Extra cool, since Apple Music is integrated into the app.)

Smart bikes.

An almost limitless number of fitness trackers, including Samsung and Apple Watches, FitBit and Garmin.

3. EXPORT WORKOUTS

You can export workouts into an .xml format to make sure it’s filed and stored wherever you need it.

6 MVP FEATURES TO UP-LEVEL YOUR TRAINING

We would be remiss if we didn’t mention the ultimate way to get the most out of MapMyRun: Upgrade to MVP status. This unlocks a bevy of features and add-ons that will help you maximize your potential.

Here’s a few things you can do once you’re an MVP:

1. CUT OUT THE ADS

No ads? No ads. This will give you the necessary headspace to focus on what’s important: Your workout.

2. LIVE TRACKING

Have peace of mind when you’re trying a new route or are visiting a new town. With the live-tracking feature, it’s easy to let friends know you went out for a run and when to expect you back.

3. PRO-LEVEL TRAINING PLANS

In MVP, you can get custom fitness plans based around your goals — for example, running a 10K or a marathon. These are created for you by MapMyRun and based on your current level of activity and the ultimate goal you are working toward.

4. MOBILE COACHING

For added instruction, you can use the voice-based coaching feature, which is also based on your baseline performance and your end goal. Basically, the app guides you through your workouts based on our own data and research on how best to hit those goals, with an eye on your pace, cadence, heart rate, calories burned (and consumed). Don’t worry: You can adjust the intensity in case it’s too easy (or too hard) on you.

5. CADENCE ANALYSIS

Monitoring your cadence, or steps per minute, is an important tool in your running arsenal. With real-time cadence analysis, you can see how your cadence varies with your pace and duration during a workout, and work to find your ideal number to run farther and feel better.

6. EARN UNDER ARMOUR SWAG

On the off-chance you could use a little extra motivation, you’ll be earning virtual badges with every noteworthy accomplishment. There are real-world perks as well, including discounts on Under Armour products, based on your level of engagement. It’s not that you need those things to be your best self … but they sure don’t hurt.

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MapMyRun (and the other MapMy apps, including MapMyRide and MapMyFitness) provide users with the ability to map, record and share their exercise routes and workouts with each other. MapMyRun is part of the world’s largest digital health and fitness community, Under Armour Connected Fitness. Improve your overall health and fitness with our family of apps.